司空圖二十四詩品《實境》 / Sikong Tu's Twenty-Four Classes of Poetry, 18 - "Domain of the Real"

I'm not terribly pleased with my title for this translation, since 境 often means border or boundary. I'll give it some thought and come up with a better title, since the atmosphere Sikong Tu evokes here does feel like some kind of liminal space, albeit one infused with the everyday reality of the Dao.

Now if you'll excuse me, there's a juvenile Cooper's hawk in the birdbath that I need to admire. Later, dudes.

微臣

史大偉

-----

實境

司空圖

取語甚直

計思匪深

忽逢幽人

如見道心

清澗之曲

碧松之陰

一客荷樵

一客聽琴

情性所至

妙不自尋

遇之自天

泠然希音

-----

"Domain of the Real"

Sikong Tu

Adopt plain speech

to sum up simple ideas.

Suddenly coming across a hermit

is like seeing into the heart of the Dao.

The bend of a clear stream,

the shade of dark-green pines—

a stranger carrying firewood,

another listening to the music of the qin

A feeling brought me to this place,

marvelous, unsought—

out of nowhere,

the clear but faint sound of music.